Governor makes appointments to State Plant Board
by August 16, 2023 9:39 pm 775 views
Gov. Sarah Sanders announced the following appointments to the State Plant Board:
- Kyle Baltz, of Pocahontas, to the State Plant Board. Term expires on August 15, 2028.
- Robert Thorne, of Marion, to the State Plant Board. Term expires on August 15, 2028.
- David Wallace, Jr., of Crawfordsville, to the State Plant Board. Term expires on August 15, 2028.
- Sammy Angel, of Lake Village, to the State Plant Board. Term expires on August 15, 2028.
- Robin Ralston, of Adkins, to the State Plant Board. Term expires on August 15, 2028.
- George Dunklin, of Humphrey, to the State Plant Board. Term expires on August 15, 2028.
- Garrett Frost, of Marianna, to the State Plant Board. Term expires on August 15, 2028.
- Jon Bierbaum, of Lake Village, to the State Plant Board. Term expires on August 15, 2028.
The State Plant Board sets regulations for a multitude of agricultural policies and law. The board has been a lightning rod of controversy in recent years over the use of the pesticide dicamba, due to litigation on the board’s composition, and with a lack of appointees serving on the panel.
A newly-enacted law, Act 135, removes the requirement that potential board nominees be selected by trade groups. Plant Board members must now be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.